A1 Journal article (refereed)
Mental, Physical and Social Functioning in Independently Living Senior House Residents and Community-Dwelling Older Adults (2021)

Lahti, A.-M., Mikkola, T. M., Salonen, M., Wasenius, N., Sarvimäki, A., Eriksson, J. G., & von Bonsdorff, M. B. (2021). Mental, Physical and Social Functioning in Independently Living Senior House Residents and Community-Dwelling Older Adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(23), Article 12299. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312299

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Lahti, Anna-Maria; Mikkola, Tuija M.; Salonen, Minna; Wasenius, Niko; Sarvimäki, Anneli; Eriksson, Johan G.; von Bonsdorff, Mikaela B.

Journal or series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

ISSN: 1661-7827

eISSN: 1660-4601

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 23/11/2021

Volume: 18

Issue number: 23

Article number: 12299

Publisher: MDPI AG

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312299

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/79325

Abstract

Senior houses provide social interaction and support, potentially supporting older people’s physical and mental functioning. Few studies have investigated functioning of senior house residents. The aim was to compare functioning between senior house residents and community-dwelling older adults in Finland. We compared senior house residents (n = 336, 69% women, mean age 83 years) to community-dwelling older adults (n = 1139, 56% women, mean age 74 years). Physical and mental functioning were assessed using the SF 36-Item Health Survey. Loneliness and frequency of social contacts were self-reported. The analyses were adjusted for age, socioeconomic factors and diseases. Physical functioning was lower among men in senior houses compared to community-dwelling men (mean 41.1 vs. 46.4, p = 0.003). Mental functioning or the frequency of social contacts did not differ between type of residence in either sex. Loneliness was higher among women in senior houses compared to community-dwelling women (OR = 1.67, p = 0.027). This was not observed in men. Results suggest that women in senior houses had similar physical and mental functioning compared to community-dwelling women. Male senior house residents had poorer physical functioning compared to community-dwelling men. Women living in senior houses were lonelier than community-dwelling women despite the social environment.

Keywords: older people; functional capacity; mental functioning; physical functioning; social functioning; social relations; loneliness; senior houses

Free keywords: mental functioning; older people; physical functioning; loneliness; senior housing; social contacts

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1